Born in Cairo in 1981, Islam was admitted to the Cairo Conservatoire at the age of six. He studied violin with Professor Irakly Beridze and Professor Hassan Sharara. Mr. El-Hefnawy received the Diploma Certificate in May 1997 with grade excellent and graduated in 2001 with grade excellent.

Islam El-Hefnawy has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras, including the Cairo Opera Orchestra, Cairo Conservatoire Orchestra, Cairo Symphony Orchestra, and Alexandria Chamber Orchestra.

He took part in several local and international competitions including the Wieniawsky and Libinsky International Competitions for violinists in 1997 in Poland and the Jacques Thibaud International Competition in 1999 in Paris.

The Cairo Opera House granted him a master class in Germany with Professor Locas David in 1996. He attended several master classes in Egypt and Germany with Professor Wolfgang Marchner.

Islam El-Hefnawy has participated in several artistic tours in France and Holland with the Mediterranean Sea Orchestra in 1995, in Germany and Russia with the Cairo Conservatoire Orchestra in 1998, with the West Eastern Divan Orchestra in 1999 and 2000, Schleswig Holstein Music Festival Orchestra in 1997 and 1999, and UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra in 2004, 2005, and 2006.

Mr. El-Hefnawy was a member of the Pionts Quartet, which participated in the Alliance Festival between Egypt and Italy in Rome in 1999 and 2002. He participated with the Cairo Conservatoire Orchestra tour in Spain in 2001 and his quartet was the 1st Prize winner of the International Chamber Music Competition in Spain.

Islam El-Hefnawy was the 2nd concert master of the Cairo Opera Orchestra and a concert master of the Philharmonic Society Orchestra.